Electrical train-controlling system.



J. H. SGHROEDER & G. D. BAUOOM. ELECTRICAL mam oomnomme SYSTEM.

APPLIOATIOII FILED NOV. 5, 1913.

Patented July 21, 1914 2 SHEETSSHBBT l.

j VENTORS mlorney W TNESSES J. H. SOHROEDBR & 3. BAUOOM.

ELEGTBIGAL TRAIN commomm SYSTEM.

- APPLEUATION FILED 110V. 5, 1913. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1,104,279, Patented July 21, 1914 @w 7& m I Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. SCHROEDER AND CARSON D. BAUCOM, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

ELECTRICAL TRAIN-CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that We, J OHN H. Sonnonnnn and CARSON D. BAUCOM, of Savannah, in the county of Chatham and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful l mprovements in Electrical Train-Controlling Systems; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical train controlling systems, and more particularly to such as are constructed a and adapted for use in a system of overlappin railway blocks for automatically control in the progress of trains,the object of the invention being to provide simple and eflicient circuits and deviceswhereby trains will be prevented from entering a block from either end when another train occupies the block,thus protecting the train against both head-on and rear-end collisions.

With this object in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts as herein after set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagralnmatical view illustrating the circuits and devices along the railroad; Figr 2 is a view showing the. cab devices, and Figs. 3, a and 5 are enlarged views or" one of the mechanical switches or circuit shifting devices to be operated by a passing train.

1 represents the track of a section of railway which latter is, for the purpose of our invention divided into blocks and the several blocks are so arranged that they overlap,one series of blocks, for example, extending from A to B and the other series of blocks alternating with the blocks of the first series and each extending from C to D.

At respective ends of each block, contact devices or ramps 2 are located and the ramps at respective ends of each block are connected by a conductor 3, two ramps being located at each block junction, one connected bv a conductor 3 with a ramp at the opposite end of a block in one direction and the other connected bv a conductor 3 with a ramp at the opposite end of a block in the opposite direction. The connections of the ramps for the blocks A-B are separate from the electrical connections between the ramps Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 5, 1913.

said switch. The construction of the me- Patented July 21, 1914. Serial No. 799,334.

of the alternating or overlapping blocks C-D as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The ramps 2 may be supported by poles or overhead structures in position to be engaged by trolley wheels or shoes (notshown) on the rolling equipment so as to. complete circuits (as ereinafter explained) for controlling the operation of devices on the said rolling equipment,-or said ramps might be located adjacent to the rails to be engaged by suitably arranged shoes or collectors.

A feed wire 4, connected With any suitable source of electric energy, extends along the railway and at one end of each block, thisfeed or supply wire is connected, by a conductor 5, with one terminal of a solenoid coil 6,-the other terminal of this coil being connected, by a conductor 7, ,with the contacts 8-9 of a mechanically operated switch 10 located at one end of a block. 1 This switch.

is operable by the wheels of or shoes, on the rolling equipment, for which purpose, a depressible rail 11 is located near the railwa rail at a block terminal and connected wi I chanically operated switches will be more fully hereinafter described. The switch 10 is provided also with contacts 11-l2 and a switch arm 13 is provided, to be operable when the rail 11 is depressed,said switch arm being adapted to electrically connect .the contacts 8-l1or the'contacts 9-42. A =mechanically operable switch it identical ;in construction and operation to the switch above mentioned as being located at one end got a block, is located at the other end of the same block. The contact 11 of switch 10 at 5 one end of a block iseonnected, by a conductor 15 with the contact 8 of switch 14 at the other end of the same block, and contact 12 of switch 10 is connected, by a conductor. 7

16 with the contact 12 of switch 14., The

contacts 9 and 11 of switch 14 are electrically connected and are normally grounded oy' aconductor 17.

Each solenoid 6 is adapted to control a;

normally open circuit closer-'18. This cir-. I

cuit-closer comprises a. cross-arm 19 carried by the core of the solenoid, and two" contact blocks 20-21. The contact block 20 is connected, by a conductor 23 with the conductor 5, and the contact block 211's connected by a conductor 21 with conductor encircling this wheel, is an oscillatory clutch 3, so that when the circuit closer 18 is closed, currert nav be supplied to the connected contact ramps 2 at respective ends of a block,

Each mechanical switch 10 and 1 1 comprises a suitable framework 2 1 in which a shaft 25 is mounted, said shaft having the switch arm 13 secured thereto s as to connect the contacts of the switch in p irs. A clutch wheel 26 is also secured tothe shaft 25, and

ring 27 having a plurality of tapering grooves 28 in its inner face for the reception-of-clutch balls or rollers 29 which cooperate with the peripheral portion of the wheel 26 to turn the latterand thev shaft 25 in one direction when the ring 27 is turned in one" direction,said ring being movable in the reverse direction independently of thefcliitch wheel. In order to retain the switch arm 13 in its normal position or in the position to which it, may be shifted, springs may be employed, one end of each of said Springs being fixed and the other end'bearing against a flat face afforded by an angular portion of the shaft 25. For imparting motion to the clutch ring, when the contact rail 11 is depressed,

, said ring is connected with the depressible '30 contact rail by means of rod or pitmen devices. Under normal conditions, the switch arm of the mechanical swltch at one end of a block will connect the Contact; 9'12 while I v the switch arm of the mechanical switch at the other end of the same block will connect the contacts 811. Thus it will be seen that the circuit of the conductors 15 and 16 will be normally open at the respective mechanical switches.

Viewing the railroad as depicted in Fig. 1 of the drawing; if'a train should enter the left hand end of a block, manipulation'of the mechanical switch 10 by depression of the rail 11, will cause the switch arm 13 to be shifted from the contacts 9-12 and caused to electrically connect the contacts 8- 11. A circuit will .be thus completed from the feed Wire, by conductor 5 to solenoid coil 6; then by conductor 7 to contact 8 of mechanical switch 10-;then by switcharm 13 to contact 11; then by conductor 15 to contact 8 of mechanical switch 14 at the other end of/the block; then by said lastmentioned switch arm to contact 11, to contact-9 of switch 14, and finally byconductor 1.7 to the ground. The current in this circuit .will energize the solenoid 6, and close the circuit closer 18,-thus closing a partial circuit from feed wire 4 to conductor 5, to conductor 23, through circuit-closer 18 to conductor 21 to conductor 3 and then to ramps Qatre'spective ends of the block. It will be readily understood that if a train should enter the block from the right instead of the left, the mechanical switch 14.- would be shifted so as'to complete the circuit of the solenoid through the conductor 16 instead of the conductor 15. lVith the conditions as above described, when a train occupies a block; should another train attempt to enter the block from either end, the trolley shoe or collector (not shown) on such train will engage a ramp 2 and thuscomplete the partial circuit of said ramp, through an electromagnet 31 on the rolling equip1nent,said magnet beingarranged to operate suitable trip dei ices 3:2 with which the valve 33 of thefair brake mechanism or steam supply or both, may be connected-and by means of which said valve or valves may be operated to stop theprogress of the train.

Various slight changes might be made in the details of construction of ,our invention or limiting its scope and hence We do not desire to restrict ourselves to the P ecise details herein set forth.

D ally described our invent-ion what we claim new and desire to secure by Let;

tors-Patent, is

1. In an electrical train controlling system, the combination with a block of railway, a source or, electrical supply, rolling equipment, and electrically cont-rolled train controlling means on the rolling equipment, of contact ramps at respective ends of'said block, to supply current to the electrically controlled devices on the rolling equipment,

a normally open partial circuit connecting said ramps with the source of electrical sup ply, an electro-Inagnetically operated circuit closer in said partial circuit, circuit closing means arranged at respective ends of the block to be mechanically operated b a train, and normally open circults inclu in said circuit closing means, the magneto said electro-magnetically operated circuit closer and the source of electrical supply. a

2. In electrical train controlling system, the combination with a block of railroad, and asonrce of electrical Suppl ramps at respective ends of itch, a conductor connecting said ramps, a tial circuit connecting said conductor .with the source of supply, a normally open circuit closer in said. circuit, a solenoid for closing said circuit closer, a circuit from the source of supply and including said solenoid, and mechanically operable circuit closers at respective ends of the block for automatically closing the circuit of the solenoid when a train enters either end of the block. Y

3. In an electrical train controlling system, the combination with a block of railway and a source of electrical supply, of contact ramps at respective. ends of the block for supplying current to electrically controlled train controlling means on rolling equipment, a conductor connecting said ramps, a

a contact tests and a messes partial circuit circuit closer, a normally open circuit con;

necting said eleciro-magneticelly operable means with the source of supply, meclieni-fl celly operable switches at respective QIlClS Gf ll 2 block and both included in said normal open circuit, 5W0 conductors connectingseicl.

switches, and. means operable by a train for operating said switches to close seicl normally open circuit through one or the other of the said two conductors.

e. In. an electrical train controlling systerm, the combination wish a block of road, and e supply conductor, of contact ramps at respective ends of t ie block, a conductor counseling saicl ramps, :1 artial cir cull; connecting said conductor Wits ti e source of supply, a normally open circuit closer in said partial circuit, electromagnetic controlling means for closing said circuit closer, a mechanical switch at each end of the block, each mechanical switch ccmprisingfour conswi bclieizn to coenec b sei f. contecis in pairs, a pemiel circuit inclucling two contacts of one of said switches, the electromagnetic coniroling means 01 she circuit closer the source of supply, grounded. si i including two coniects of the other use. "iical switch, mo conductors connec i-ie ila l tuning; contacts oi nicel switches, and m ereble by a partial 7 said mechanical switchesto close or open the circuit 01. the electromagnetic ccnlzrfilling;

means for the circuit closer.

5'. In an electrical train controlling system, f

il e combination with a block of railway, a source of electrical supply, electrically con "c ted contest ramps at respective ends of block, and electro-megneticelly con cs "from the source of supply loi meblock, eceli switch comprising four stationary contacts and a revoluble arm for coning said contacts in pairs, a clutch c0n-' l e -dfwith said arm, means operable by a tea :1 for operating said clutch Se turn the switch arm, a partial circuit including two contacts of one mechanical switch. and the saicl sleaze-magnetically controlled means,

two contacts of""el1e other switch being grounded, conductors connecting 'ihe remaining contacts 01" #lie respective mecliemc al SXVLLellQS, rolling, equipment, and; elec-.-

trosnagneticellysconsrolleni means on the 60'.

rolling; equipmeneisoi eceive current from said ramps eel means for supplying current tofsaid n, chemical switches at respective en s of the,

in testimony whereoi we have signecl this, v

sp cificstion in the presence of twovsubscriba wienesses. Y Y

JUHN Sill- RUBBER CARSON D. BA-UCOM. V v

T'Jitnesses o F, B. VINCENT, "5. LA FAR. 

